Let’s have a conversation you’ve likely had too many times this year about how to increase student enrollment. You’re in a strategy meeting. The pressure is on. Applications are flat. Yield is unpredictable. And someone says: “We need new strategies to increase enrollment.”
The challenge isn’t that there’s a lack of ideas. The real issue is implementing strategies that work—and knowing where to focus.
Let’s walk through six strategies I’ve seen actually move the needle for enrollment leaders. Real-world strategies rooted in behavior, technology, and simplicity.
1. Turn Your Website Into a Tool to Increase Student Enrollment
The most overlooked enrollment channel is the one you already own. If your website doesn’t give students an easy path to ask, evaluate, and act—you’re losing them. Most prospective students want one thing quickly: “Can I transfer my credits and finish my degree here?” If your homepage can’t answer that in under 30 seconds, it’s time to retool.
One university I worked with embedded DegreeSight INBOUND directly on their homepage. Within weeks, they saw double the inquiries—because students finally got clear, real-time answers.
2. Use Credit Evaluation to Increase Student Enrollment
Here’s a stat we can’t ignore: over 70% of adult learners and transfers already have credit. But most schools still require them to apply before they find out what transfers. That’s a broken process.
If you want to increase enrollment, flip the script. Offer self-service evaluations upfront. Capture the lead before they apply. The data shows it increases application rates, speeds up decisions, and makes you look student-centered.
3. Automate Your Follow-Up—But Make It Personal
There’s no excuse in 2025 to let inquiries sit in an inbox. Your CRM or student recruitment software should follow up immediately. But the trick is relevance. If a student downloads a program brochure, the next message they get should speak to that specific program—and include a next step.
Automation isn’t cold. When used right, it’s caring at scale.
4. Create Targeted Campaigns for High-Yield Groups
Don’t try to reach everyone. Target groups that align with your programs and mission. For many institutions, that means adult learners, transfers, first-gen students, or local community college graduates.
Build landing pages, campaigns, and articulation tools just for them. One of the highest-yield campaigns we ran was a co-branded email with a local CC partner that simply said, “See how your credits transfer—before you apply.”
5. Align Marketing, Admissions, and the Registrar
Your enrollment strategy falls apart if these three teams aren’t aligned. The marketing team should know what questions are coming into admissions. The registrar should help inform what equivalencies students see on your website. And your CRM should connect it all.
Enrollment is a team sport. Break down the silos.
6. Track and Tweak Weekly
Quarterly reviews are too slow. If you want to grow enrollment, monitor your funnel weekly. Are transcript uploads slowing down? Are email open rates dipping? Is one program suddenly spiking in interest? Build a dashboard that your team actually uses—and meet on it regularly.
These strategies to increase student enrollment aren’t magic. They’re about being fast, human, and helpful.
If you’re ready to apply these strategies and unlock your enrollment potential, let’s start with a Transfer Friendliness Assessment. We’ll show you exactly where the biggest gains are waiting.